Destructible license tag



Get. 4, 1939., T. J. HOBBS DESTRUCTIBLE LICENSE TAG Filed March 7, 19:5)

Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE DESTRUCTIBLE LICENSE TAG Thomas Jackson Hobbs, Macon, Ga.

Application March 7, 1939, Serial No. 260,435

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in license plates or tags for motor vehicles. v

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved license tag and sup porting means therefor which cooperate to prevent the removal of the tag for reuse upon another vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved theft proof vehicle tag which is so de- 10. signed that its form must be completely destroyed in order to effect its removal from the vehicle and supporting bracket upon which it is mounted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle tag formed of a destructible material which, while designed to withstand the ordinary abuse to which such tags are 1 subjected, will, nevertheless, be formed of a suitable plastic material which will make it possible .20 to break the tag before its detachament from its supporting bracket can be eifected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved motor vehicle license tag and supporting bracket therefor in which the tag will 25 be automatically locked in position upon the bracket when the bracket is inserted in a receiving opening provided in the body of the tag and which locking means is inaccessible for the removal of the tag from the bracket without break- 30 ing or destroying the body of the tag.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with 35 the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the 40 salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure l is a view in rear elevation of the structure embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the locking pin carrying boss.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

50 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the modified form of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I generally designates a tag supporting arm or bracket which has connected as integrally therewith a cross a m 2 g nst which the lower edge of the license tag positions when the tag is secured on the bracket.

The bracket I is formed at its upper end with rounded shoulders 3 and below these shoulders with notches 4. 5

The tag forming a part of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 5.

This tag is to be molded or stamped from a suitable plastic material so that the tag will be destroyed or damaged beyond further use before '10 it may be released from the bracket I upon which it is mounted.

In the formation of the tag 5 the back is provided with the surrounding recess 6 forming bottom, top and end shoulders I. There is also 5 molded on the back of the tag body as an integral part thereof, the boss 8 which is provided with a longitudinally extending chamber 9 which opens through the lower side thereof as illustrated. The chamber 9 of this boss extends transversely of the tag and in the opposite walls of the passage 9 there are formed recesses It] for the reception of the headed locking pins II each of which has interposed between its inner end and the end of the passage in which it positions, an expansion spring I 2 which normally urges the pin to move outwardly or toward the passage 9. The headed end of each pin thus normally projects into the passage and it will be readily apparent that when the upper end of the bracket I is inserted into the end of the passage 9, the rounded shoulders 3 of the bracket will press the lock pins back so as to permit the end of the bracket to move entirely into the passage 9 where the notches 4 will be in position to receive the heads of the pins. The springs will then project the pins into the notches and the bracket and tag will be locked together. When the tag has been thus attached to the bracket, the lower shoulder I will lie against or in close proximity to the horizontal supporting bar 2, the bar resting in the bottom channel 6 of the tag. Thus, the bar 2 serves as a brace for the tag preventing the twisting and accidental breaking of the same in the event that pressure is imposed against either end of the tag.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the removal of the tag from the bracket I cannot be accomplished without breaking the tag, therefore the theft of the tag and its illegal reuse will be effectively prevented.

Where such tags are to be issued for use by dealers who find it necessary to shift the tags from one car to another, provision may be made for the unlocking of the pins II from the notches 4 of the bracket, as shown in Figure 4. In this modified form, the boss I3 will be made of slightly greater width than the boss 8 and the lock pin passages M in which the lock pins 15 are slidably mounted, will be provided at their rear ends with small openings l6 through which an operating wire I1 may pass for attachment to the rear or outer end of the adjacent pin l5. By this means, the tag which is here generally designated by the numeral [8, may be released when desired from the supporting bracket l9 so that the tag may be transferred to a similar bracket upon another car.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the structure herein described is ofextrmely simple design and may, therefore, be inexpensively manufactured while, at -the same time,

the design is such that there has been :provided an effective means of preventing the unauthorized removal and use of the tag after it'has once been placed in positionupon a machine. :Inzthe provision of the modified -form ofgtag for-dea1ers use it is possible to equip all machines with a supporting bracket ,of exactly-the'same size and type so that the proper tag supporting-bracket of the vehicle may be used by dealers for their removable or transferrable tags, as well as by purchasers, of the vehicle-who will place their tags on the brackets for :permanent attachment.

While in the ioregoing part of the specifiof metal or of a product of the type specifically named or of any other suitable material which might be broken.

I claim:

1. The improved vehicle tag and supporting means comprising a supporting bracket, a tag body formed of destructible material, means forming a part of the tag body upon the back of the same to provide a receiver for an end of the bracket, and latching means within the receiver for locking connection with the said end of the bracket when the latter is inserted therein.

2. A motor vehicle tag and supporting means therefor, comprising a tag body formed of destructible material, a boss formed upon the back of the tag body and having a chamber opening through one side of the boss, a bracket comprising a single bar member designed to be vertically disposed and having opposite edges provided with notches, said bar being designed for insertion into thenchamber ofisaid boss, and spring pressed locking pins housed within the 'boss and 'each having :an end extended into the chamber for engagement *ina notch of the bracket bar when .the latterisinserted.

-3. 'A motor -vehicle tagfiand supporting "means 7 therefor, comprising a tag body formedof 'deinsertion into the-chamber of said boss, spring pressed :locking 'pins housed within the boss and f each having an end-extended into the chamber 

